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France ill at ease with its history: Bruckner

Deepa H Ramakrishnan

The French novelist spoke about difficulties faced by the European country

INTERESTING AND INTENSE: French novelist and essayist Pascal Bruckner (left), interacts with the audience in Pondicherry. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY: As the sun set,a hush came over the crowd that gathered at the Maison Colombani in Pondicherry.

They sat down to listen to famous French novelist and essayist Pascal Bruckner on a subject very dear to them - France. Seated in the audience was the French Consul-General, Michel Seguy, and the Alliance Francaise Director, Alain Thomas.

The crowd listened with rapt attention as the novelist spoke for about an hour on the "difficulties" that France was facing.

"By difficulties I don't mean financial ones: it is a rich country. But, it is a country that is ill at ease with its history. Every country finds it difficult to come to terms with its past. The French want to turn their backs on the period.

In one way, it's a good sign that France has renounced all its colonial ambitions, the other side is that it doesn't want to know anything about the past. They want to wipe it off, and though we restore our churches, monuments and palaces we want the past to be as clean as a mirror. I feel that a nation that turns its back on its past has no future," he said.

The other problems that he spoke about include the "no vote" to the European referendum, the high rate of unemployment (9.5 percent), immigration problems, and the riots in the suburbs.

"The `No Vote' was a bad decision. It was as if we were saying `no' to the outside world. They wanted to say `no' to Jacques Chirac.

Also, it was a reflection of nationalist feelings. France wanted to lead Europe, but in Europe the French model is vanishing and the Anglo Saxon model is being followed. It is indeed a step backwards, but then we are used to surprises," he said.

"We have 5 million Muslims in France, most of whom are moderate. But there are some small groups that are active in a fanatic way.

It is a simple religion, a simple creed and so a growing religion, but the minority wants to destroy the secular state [France] and that the French cannot tolerate.

We already have four centuries of conflict with the Catholic Church. It's a warm situation. Of course, things will right themselves but it could take a long time," said the author, who loves to write amidst noise and chaos and which is perhaps why he chose to talk on the problems of France rather than paint a rosy picture of it.

Pascal Bruckner has a masters degree in philosophy and a Ph.D in literature and writes for children as well as for adults. He loves India and comes often on tours and gives lectures.

His book against depression, existential angst, cry babies and whining "victims," The Temptation of Innocence, was awarded the prestigious Le Grand Prix de L'Academie and the Medici Prize for essays.

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